Professor Shimizu Masaaki talked with Mr. Tran Van Ky, Chanh Bai - Head of the Management Board of Phu Nhuan communal relics (right cover, right photo) and Dr. Pham Van Luan (left). Photo: STT

Professor Shimizu Masaaki is a person who is very interested in Ben Tre city because 30 years ago, the professor came to work in Ben Tre city many times, in June 2022 the professor visited and learned about the Vietnamese Heritage Tree - Bach Mai tree over 300 years old at Phu Tu Communal House,  Phu Hung commune. Prof. Shimizu Masaaki spent time talking with Chief Bai Tran Van Ky (born in 1937), who has over 60 years of monitoring and caring for Thien Tue trees, the Professor warmly congratulated Phu Nhuan Communal House and Ben Tre city on having the 2nd Heritage Tree, an event according to the Professor is very important because the Heritage Tree is a symbol of communication to protect the landscape.  preserving biodiversity, protecting the environment, and raising the role and awareness of the community about natural landscapes, biodiversity and human ecology in the context of climate change.

Professor Shimizu Masaaki, Ph.D. Mika Kondo, Ph.D. Pham Van Luan (from left) by the Bach Mai tree, Phu Tu communal house, Phu Hung commune.  Photo: STT

Professor Shimizu Masaaki is pleased to know that Thien Tue Tree, Phu Nhuan communal house, Ben Tre City is the first Heritage tree of the Mekong Delta to be recognized in 2025, is the second Vietnamese Heritage tree of Ben Tre city, the 7th Vietnamese Heritage tree of Ben Tre province (the remaining 6 heritage trees include 4 trees in Ba Tri,  Ben Tre City 1 tree, Binh Dai district 1 tree). 

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, Deputy Director of the Cultural Heritage Association of Ben Tre Province (right cover) and members accompanied Prof. Shimizu at the Heavenly Tree of Phu Nhuan communal house. Photo: STT

Professor Shimizu Masaaki highly appreciated the Vietnam Heritage Tree Initiative and shared his experience in caring for and preserving ancient trees in Japan with the Phu Tu Communal Management Board, representatives of the Young Creativity Group and the Young Creativity Association, the Cultural Heritage Association of Ben Tre Province, etc.  The professor said that the Vietnamese Heritage tree. Specifically, the ancient Thien Tue tree not only meets the goal: preserving precious and typical genetic resources of Vietnam, proving the richness and diversity of Ben Tre's flora to friends around the world, but also directly promoting and improving the cultural value of Ben Tre,  contributing to the development of ecotourism and spiritual tourism in Ben Tre province and Vietnam.

Professor Shimizu (left cover) and representatives of the Ben Tre Provincial Cultural Heritage Association, Young Creativity Branch took a photo of the Heavenly Tree of Phu Nhuan communal house. Photo: STT

At the end of the visit, Professor Shimizu expressed his belief that the ancient Thien Tue tree recognized as a Vietnamese Heritage tree will turn Phu Nhuan communal house into a tourist destination for historical-cultural and ecological education according to the research results of the Program "Conservation of Ben Tre relics in the shade of Vietnamese Heritage trees" by Dr. Pham Van Luan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, advisor to the Ben Tre Young Creativity group has been implemented since 2022, thereby opening up a great opportunity to connect humanistic eco-tourism routes and attractions in Ben Tre city from heritage trees in Ben Tre city.

GS. Shimizu Masaaki (left) and Chief Bai Tran Van Ki. Photo: STT

Professor Shimizu wished the Management Board of the communal house and the people of Phu commune to soon mobilize resources to ensure the care and protection of Thien Tue trees, Phu Nhuan communal house to develop green and lasting as the name "Thien Tue"!

GS. Shimizu Masaaki (phải)  và TS. Phạm Văn Luân (trái) tại Nhà Bia Trương Vĩnh Ký. Ảnh: KL